Older Cd Players vs. new ones

Generally, new is better. Technology has improved a great deal. What used to cost thousand can now be achieved for hundreds.

One example:
I had an older Krell CD setup (all of my other electronics are Krell), but wanted to be able to play SACD's. I sold it and bought a Marantz SA14 and placed it atop the Nueance platform. => much better sound for less that half the price.

Richard

What's the rest of your system?

Rogue Metis Pre
Classe CA 300 Power
Usher 6371 speakers (just sold some Magnepan 1.6)
Kimber Kables
Music Hall mmf-7.1/grado reference
audio research ph3 phono pre

Also, I always forget my REL Strata 3

You're certainly entitled to your opinion on the subject, but my experience has been just the opposite.

For what it's worth, not to long ago, Stereophile released a list of what they felt where audio equipment classics.

The main criteria they used was the unit's ability to stand the test of time, and still hold it's own today.

To my surprise and many others, their list completely omitted any categories for digital playback.

After many subscribers wrote in to complain, they explained that because digital playback had improved by such a large margin, pretty much on an annual basis over the last 10 years or so, that none of the truly great players of yesteryear could even compete with a modestly good player today.